Parenting and anxiety kind of go hand-in-hand, especially with that whole lack of sleep thing. (Ugh.) Making parenting decisions when you're constantly stressed is no fun and it can make you panicky and anxious, but there's one that might be able to solve everything — co-sleeping. If the thought of co-sleeping makes you even more nervous and worried, I get it, but there are actually a few ways co-sleeping helps with your anxiety.
Even if you don't have an actual diagnosed anxiety disorder, you may struggle with worrying over your child or feeling nervous about their well-being. When it comes to sleep, it's especially difficult to turn off all of the "what ifs" running through your brain. The Telegraph noted that researchers have conducted studies that found babies' sleep was often disrupted by mothers with anxiety and not the other way around. Mothers who felt anxious would go and wake their baby up, check on them so often through the night that the baby didn't sleep well, and rush to every sound the baby made.
Sound familiar? I get it, but there could be a solution. Co-sleeping could make some of your anxiety disappear at bedtime, whether it includes your child sharing a bed with you or sleeping in their own cot or crib in your room. You won't have to check on them throughout the night or rush to every sound they make because they are right there, sleeping soundly. Co-sleeping can help with your anxiety in these seven ways and create a good night's sleep for everyone.